Individual consultancy: Evaluation of the medical assistance and vaccine roll out Programme in Suriname

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, safety

How can you make a difference?

Background

The Republic of Suriname detected its first case of COVID 19 on March 13, 2020. Since April 2021, the country has experienced 5 major waves of the pandemic with increasing cases of deaths and serious numbers of COVID-19 infected cases which were of great concern to the government of Suriname and its partners. In the absence of definitive therapeutic options for the management and control of this disease, vaccination is a primary prevention measure and the best option for controlling the disease and save lives through reduction of severe cases and deaths.

The pandemic has also brought the importance of resilient health systems back in focus and exposed weaknesses in health system. The COVID-19 created an urgent need for the revision of Government priorities and for the donor’s group in Suriname. As part of the measures implemented to control the COVID-19 pandemic, the government decided to focus on the health response during the 9 first months of the crisis and to start working on the recovery phase from June 2021 to June 2023. While country attempt to control and interrupt the virus transmission and ensure that people with COVID-19 receive appropriate treatment, health resources, including personnel and facilities were diverted to the response.

UNICEF has been working closely with the Ministry of Health in the implementation of the COVID-19 deployment plan by supporting and providing technical and financial support for demand generation, risk communication cold chain, vaccine roll-out planning and preparedness, WASH and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in health facilities and school settings and improving planning and coordination.

UNICEF continued to support the efforts of the Government for COVID -19 vaccine, program planning and management in the country with a particular focus on UNICEF’s key mandate areas – Cold Chain and Vaccine Supply Management, and Communication and Community Engagement and coordinate health section and with supply and other sections for a coordinated response. In this regard to respond adequately across the country in coordinating vaccine supplies, risk communication, community engagement, capacity building and strengthening of the cold chain in response to COVID-19 the financial support of the Dutch Natcom was requested and received with as main objective of the proposal to accelerate the vaccination against COVID-19, and to strengthen the Case management protocols, particularly for infected children, in order to ensure the control of the pandemic and reduce the fatality rate.

The specifics objectives included in the proposals were the following:

• Oxygen Concentrators to provide swift and portable support for at least 50 moderately ill COVID-19 patients. Cost based on 10 Litres Per Minute single flow machines. Target: 52 Oxygen Concentrators • Addressing vaccine hesitancy and strengthening demand for immunization against COVID-19 for 60,000 (aged 12-39 years) with focus on 2 most at-risk regions living in the peri urban and rural area, covering an estimate of 11,329 inhabitants in Brokopondo and East Suriname and national caregivers of children age 12-18. o Target: at least 1,000 persons to be vaccinated (52% female and 48% male) in target area in the interior. • Deployment of IPC-WASH and vaccine mobile cold chain materials in support to 50 mobile vaccination sites, to cover the need of 120 health care workers and “clients” attending the vaccination sites.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An Advanced University Degree in Medicine, Public Health, Community Health or related fields (preferably with specialized training in epidemiology, disease control, immunization, health education, and/or healthcare system management • A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in designing, implementing and supervising Monitoring and Evaluation programmes • Proven experience in leading and managing outcome and impact evaluations. Good understanding of evaluation methodologies and UNEG norms and standards for Evaluation. • A good understanding of equity issues • Proven analytical skills and experiences lending to the ability to identify and evaluate best practices and innovative approaches to be utilized by the project • Excellent English writing skills • Strong organizational, and presentation skills • Proven knowledge of local context; knowledge of local languages is an asset

Please access the Terms of Reference here: TOR Evaluation of the Medical assistance and vaccination roll out Programme.pdf

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

All Candidates should submit a financial proposal as part of their application.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.